The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-03-24
BL0Cl,EKIiA 4 DE RUNNING.
EXPERIENCE OF A CLYDE STEAMER
7."oN THE CAPE FEAR COAST.

Flying 70 Pass Thrsash ths New Inlet.
A Gordon Of Cruisers On Guard--Beach-s
Ing the Vessel and Setting Her %.
Fire Ca J., "''';.@..l' 80 D. s'<.-..s. ~ g
Our forty-eight-bo1 trip was uninter-
rupted by. Union cruisers, and we reached
the Cape Fear offing about midnight. The
bieckading squadron, we had learned in
Nassau, had been largely increased, and
the captain, officers and pilot were on the
qui .vive. There was no moon, but the
stars were shining, contingency which
had been counted upon. All was cXpecta-
ton not unmixed with trepidation on
board the Corn Rigs. Even the beautiful
lady passenger, who had not made her ap-
peafance on deck since she came on board
at Nassau, came out on deck and peered
through the night glass gailantly rendered
by the captain. s@'5- n ~ sa..5 $50.
1t seemedsas though every yard Of space
was guarded by the blockadins squadron
that night. Three times the Corn Rigs in
trying TO pass through the new inlet had
10 turn back, when OH the point of running
directly into cruiser. a. 1-.-'..S ..'.s
The captain, needing not the advice Of
the pilot, resolved on q bold dash The,
cruisers had drawn near tho shore and
made q Gordon around the mouth Of the
new inlet. -, '"'-..'@. IT,. .-.-"
Boom! A long, sullen roar from an
Armstrong gun at the Mound battery
told the cruisers that they were too near.
The fiery, screaming shell passed over the
inside line of cruisers and only missed the
Corn Rigs by few feet.
,'s6ive her more stean,,'' was the cap.
tain 3 command by mufiied bell to the en-
ginesr. The runner slipped between two
cruisers rnobserved, when the way was
stopped by third, which fred two shots
In rapid succession. Away, like a fox
pursued by pack Of dogs, rushed the
Clyde steamer TO tbs north. Then turn
ing almost o complete circle, she again
pluckily essaycd an entrance.
In vain Blue lights We're burning on
half q dozen quarter decks; dozen rock
cts went Up In air and the roar of dozen
guns added to the excitement Of the sceuc.
! A shell struck the smokestack, tearing it
half away. The frightened lady ran On
deck and tainted in the captains Arms.
T t'Head her round the Frying Pan to the
SOUTH shouted the captain, as he con-
yesed the lady to her staterooul, where
her colored servant lay on the fIoor
II was o'clock and there was not
much darkness to spare. In an hour
and q half afterwnrd, the Corn Rigs es
sayed the, southern inlet. tins distance
being reduced by the pilots knowledge OF
an intricate passage through the shoals.
The captain recklessly headed for the inlet
atonee, The might glasses showed that
| he must pass cruiser, but be steered his
boat directly for It. Outside two more
were bearing in from the east, and ad.
vanced behind US. Lying close to shore,
but nearer the forts than the Corn Rigs,
was another, quietly waiting to eobble us
up. The gray dawn was breaking slowly.
We were in the tolls.
stClear away the boats. " -- y:
That meant THAI the Corn Rigs was to
be beached, and sprang to help. We
were close to shore and the firing was In
cessant
% Bang, bang; whirr, whtrr, 10 '- Il
- t'D-n them !n said the captain bitterly;
.they ara firing grape shop at us. But
they shah't capture this boat. I" nc. ~sr q
81 Two barrels Of turpentine slowed for
ward behind the cable were smashed in
with an ak, and the limpid liquid flooded
the decks. Meanwhile one boat, smashed
to pieces by grape shot, was cleared away
and two others loBered. Officers and
men crowded tnto. them. Ahner the
pilot, with blood streaming down his face
from splinter wound. worked the helm
a. coolly - on pleasure excursion. tII
Gomez impatiently said the captain
a. myself and the mate hauled the lady
and her servant into the boat. The other
boat was on Its way to the shore,
"All right" said ths pilot, Jumping
down. sssiaz ss.ct..!.,lss ri. / at.:.os,.
"Crackr' The first mate had fired his
pistol into the turpentine. A fierce and
sudden blaze enveloped the steamer from
stem to stern, as she drove head foremost
on the beach. The cruisers, enraged at
the loss Of the rich prize almost within
their grasp. commenced firing with in
creased rapidity. .. j
Bangl bangi bangl N9Si.'-:ti p. 4
The water. all around the boat was
churned almost into foam by the grape
shot. A shot killed one Of the men, and
took hold OF his oar, with my feet on his
bleeding corpse. In a few seconds we
were on the beach, beside the burning
vessel Everybody jumped into the surf,
and the captain and carried the lady
ashore. The servant was carried ashore,
also. .s.-. ....-.- .'-.... 81.
81 'clar', boss, you is on trouble.'
turned and saw negro, seated on ous
OF the two wheeled, one mule wagons Of
that region.
3 you are black angel from, heaven, /"
said to the colored man. II wish the
lady conveyed to some house."
Two or three boats from the cruiser
were already az tho burning vessel. we
drove hurriedly to Smithville, where q
better conveyance landed us In Whining.
ton. Before dark / had the pleasure OF
banding the lady over TO her husband,
Maj. Sheldon, q Georgian oflcer of good
family. -Detroit Free Press.
Lxpenses In Ysis College. @
At the most democratic college in the
country the adjective, CT course, not be,